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Entrepreneurship has been emphasized as a way of boosting economic growth. However, there is a lack of knowledge about whether changes in economic context influence entrepreneurial activity. This paper analyzes the influence that such economic changes may have on entrepreneurial intention and its antecedents from individuals' cognitive perspectives. With this aim, an empirical study is conducted using the Partial Least Squares technique on a sample of 7454 Spanish university students, who had participated in the Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Student Survey 2013 and 2018 editions. The results indicate that in times of optimistic job prospects arising from a period of economic growth, individuals reduce their entrepreneurial intentions as a professional option for the future. Despite this, improvements in the economic situation can intensify the perception of support from those closest to potential young entrepreneurs, as well as the confidence that these people have in themselves to start a new business. Moreover, our findings suggest that better economic expectations negatively influence the relationship between social support perceived and young people's motivations (attitude and self-efficacy) towards the decision to become an entrepreneur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on university education and its role in developing personality traits essential to achieving success in entrepreneurship is required because of the significance of entrepreneurship for advancements in the economic, social, technological, and environmental spheres. Additionally, the value of a university education in shaping an individual's personality, and the necessity of emphasizing entrepreneurship in higher education for students to achieve real success, should be a priority in our society. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to explore how university education influences personality traits that are key to success in entrepreneurship in Spain. To achieve this objective, a qualitative methodology based on the study of 11 cases has been adopted. The results allow us to conclude that university education has a decisive influence on the development of the personality traits that integrally determine entrepreneurial success as the culmination of the final stage of the maturation process; however, a university education is not fundamental to the development of these traits. Nevertheless, entrepreneurs emphasized that the personality traits analyzed need to be reinforced explicitly in university education since they effectively positively impact the success of entrepreneurial initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]